Entity framework code-first null foreign key

123
votes

I have a User < Country model. A user belongs to a country, but may not belong to any (null foreign key).

How do I set this up? When I try to insert a user with a null country, it tells me that it cannot be null.

The model is as follows:

 public class User{
    public int CountryId { get; set; }
    public Country Country { get; set; }
}

public class Country{
    public List<User> Users {get; set;}
    public int CountryId {get; set;}
}

Error: A foreign key value cannot be inserted because a corresponding primary key value does not exist. [ Foreign key constraint name = Country_Users ]"}

4
entity-frameworkmappingef-code-firstforeign-key-relationshipentity-framework-4.1
Can you kindly correct me if i am wrong. A foreign key is NULLABLE by DEFAULT in code first asp.net mvc - 5 entity framework. – Unbreakable
If we want to make it non nullable. we need to either use fluent api if not then decorate with "Required" attribute. Am I correct? – Unbreakable
If we don't do either then Foreign key will be defaulted to Nullable – Unbreakable

4 Answers

187
votes

You must make your foreign key nullable:

public class User
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int? CountryId { get; set; }
    public virtual Country Country { get; set; }
}
12
votes

I prefer this (below):

public class User
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int? CountryId { get; set; }
    [ForeignKey("CountryId")]
    public virtual Country Country { get; set; }
}

Because EF was creating 2 foreign keys in the database table: CountryId, and CountryId1, but the code above fixed that.

9
votes

I have the same problem now , I have foreign key and i need put it as nullable, to solve this problem you should put 

    modelBuilder.Entity<Country>()
        .HasMany(c => c.Users)
        .WithOptional(c => c.Country)
        .HasForeignKey(c => c.CountryId)
        .WillCascadeOnDelete(false);

in DBContext class I am sorry for answer you very late :)

3
votes

I recommend to read Microsoft guide for use Relationships, Navigation Properties and Foreign Keys in EF Code First, like this picture.

enter image description here

Guide link below:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/ef/ef6/fundamentals/relationships?redirectedfrom=MSDN